Massachusetts business in brief

Foreclosure deeds are up again in Mass., but initial petitions are down; HarborOne launches big marketing campaign; Boston officials approve condo project for West Broadway.

Foreclosure deeds rise 22% in January

BOSTON – The number of foreclosure deeds recorded in Massachusetts rose nearly 22 percent in January from the same time a year ago, while initial petitions to foreclose plunged by 39 percent from January 2008 levels.

A total of 974 foreclosure deeds were recorded in January, up from 800 in January 2008, according to The Warren Group of South Boston. Lenders, however, started fewer foreclosure proceedings: Initial petitions to foreclose dropped to 1,960 last month, down from 3,212 initial petitions in January 2008.

Warren Group CEO Tim Warren said several large banks have temporarily suspended foreclosures, and lenders are facing more political pressure to work with borrowers – potentially contributing to the slowdown in initial foreclosure petitions. Warren said the pace of foreclosure deed recordings has remained fairly steady from month to month in each of the past four months.

HarborOne begins marketing campaign

BROCKTON – HarborOne Credit Union is spending more than $100,000 on its latest marketing campaign to highlight its Brockton roots.

The credit union began running print, radio and TV ads in late January and the campaign had been scheduled to wrap up at the end of this month. But Jim Rice, the credit union’s senior vice president of marketing, said the credit union may extend the campaign into March because of the favorable response it has received. The campaign is the credit union’s most expensive marketing effort since 2006, Rice said.

The credit union has about 135,000 members who live or work in one of four counties in Southeastern Massachusetts.

‘Throwback menus’ at Charlestown eatery

BOSTON – Celebrity chef Todd English is introducing a “Throwback Friday Menu” that features original menu items and original 1989 prices at his Olives Restaurant in Charlestown as part of a celebration of the restaurant’s 20th anniversary. The promotion will take place every Friday through the end of April.

Comment period expanded for Cape Wind project

BOSTON – The U.S. Minerals Management Service has agreed to extend the public comment period for its final environmental impact statement on the Cape Wind project until March 21. A number of critics of the 130-turbine wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound had urged the federal agency to extend the comment period, which was set to expire on Tuesday.

Condo building OK’d for South Boston

BOSTON – Boston officials have approved a five-story, 15-unit condo building for West Broadway in South Boston. The project, which was approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority, will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. The building will have commercial space on the ground floor at 333-339 W. Broadway, as well as parking. The developers are Paul Adamson and Mark Cummins of South Boston.